Relief slot for a load bearing assembly

Abstract

A load bearing assembly comprises: a lug body; an outer race disposed within and supported by the lug body; an inner race disposed within and supported by the outer race; and a relief slot defined between the adjacent surfaces of the outer race and the lug body, wherein the relief slot is formed in the surface of the outer race.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A load bearing assembly comprising:
 a lug body defining an axis and a primary load path along the axis; 
 an outer race disposed within and supported by the lug body; 
 an inner race disposed within and supported by the outer race; and 
 a relief slot defined between the adjacent surfaces of the outer race and the lug body, wherein the outer race comprises a tab which has been swaged into a recess defined in the lug body; 
 wherein the tab is located on the circumference of the outer race in line with the axis and the primary load path so that loads through the assembly along the primary load path do not apply shear forces to the tab. 
 
     
     
       2. A load bearing assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lug body comprises a bore for housing the outer race, wherein the bore is devoid of regions in which forces and stress concentrate. 
     
     
       3. A load bearing assembly as claims in  claim 2 , wherein the bore has a circular cross-section. 
     
     
       4. A load bearing assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the relief slot is defined in the surface of the outer race circumferentially perpendicular to the primary load bearing region of the surface. 
     
     
       5. A load bearing assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the relief slot is filled with a flexible adhesive and/or sealant. 
     
     
       6. A load bearing assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the relief slot is defined in the surface of the outer race over an arc in the range 45-90 degrees. 
     
     
       7. A load bearing assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the relief slot is defined in the surface of the outer race to a depth of 0.1-0.5 millimetres. 
     
     
       8. A load bearing assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a second relief slot on an opposite side of the outer race. 
     
     
       9. A method of manufacturing a load bearing assembly including a lug body defining an axis and a primary load path along the axis, an outer race disposed within and supported by the lug body, and an inner race disposed within and supported by the outer race; the method comprising:
 providing a relief slot formed in the outer race between the adjacent surfaces of the outer race and the lug body wherein the outer race comprises a tab which has been swaged into a recess defined in the lug body and is located on the circumference of the outer race in line with the axis and the primary load path so that loads through the assembly along the primary load path do not apply shear forces to the tab. 
 
     
     
       10. A method as claimed in  claim 9 , comprising filling the relief slot with a flexible adhesive or sealant. 
     
     
       11. A method as claimed in  claim 9 , comprising inserting the outer race into a bore of the lug body, wherein the bore is devoid of regions in which forces and stress concentrate. 
     
     
       12. A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the bore has a circular cross section.